Target-practice rod.



R. E. REARDON. -v TARGET PRACTICE ROD.

APPLlcATloN man FEB. 24. 1911.

Patented May 22, 1917.

'rii

STATS PA ROBERT.' EDWIN REARDON, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANAD.

TARGET-PRACTICE 1to1).`

Specification of Letters Patent. l Patented luay 22, 1917. i

Appiicatiqn f uea February 24, i917. serial No'. 150,842.Y

T0 all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROBERT EDWIN REAR-'r' DON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident lof the city of .Ottawa', in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Target-Practice'Rods, ofV

' The objects of the invention are to sim-j plify and improve the-construction of the device to enable it to more eectually perform the ffunctions required of One of the difficulties experienced with target practice rods of the present type has been they turning of the striking'rod in the sleeve, wherebyit is rendered more di'liicult to correct any error in thel alinement of the rod. This difficulty is overcome in the preeent invention providing guiding means, such as a groove in the tube A forming a vguid l ing rib on the interior to which is fitted a suitable guide member on the rod.

A further object of the invention is. to

pro-vide an improved vand simplified form of joint used when the rod is constructed in two parts.

l/Vhen'the target practice rodis used with a dummy cartridge placedin the magazine of the rifle, it is necessary.Y the striking ,arm should be of a shorter` length to that used when the 'hammer strikes the rod directly, and the present invention provides a simple and effective means for the length of thev to fit the socket 22. On areduced or grooved striking arm being varied.Y The invention also inc ment to the dummy cartridge used for magazine fire and to themuzzle clip adapted to hold the tube in position.V For a Vcomplete understanding of the invention reference is made to the following specification and accompanying drawings forming part thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the rod partially in section. Fig. 2shows a vation. v

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view longitudinal sectional eleludes an improve.

through the joint between the two sections of therod. Fig. tis a section on the line 2-2 o Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig.' 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one section of theiointed rod.

Fig. 7 is a sectiona view of the dummy cartridge.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to Vthe drawings,` A represents A a metal tube adapted to be inserted into the barrel of a rie, being provided at the outer end with a bushing 10k adapted to abut ythe muzzle of the rifle barrel, and being held in position thereagainst by means of a muzzle clip 11. f Y

Y The muzzle clip comprises a hook shaped flange'12 adapted to embrace the upper side of the bushing 10., side flanges 13 and 14 adapted to bear against theface of the bushing 10, ,and a lower-retaining flange 15 having a projection 16 bearing against the bushing 10` "and having hook shapedl end 17 adapted to engage the foresight `band of ythe rifle and so retain thedevice in position.

The rod A is formed in two sections, 20 and 21, connected together by. an improved formy of joint formingpart of thepresent invention. This joint comprises a socket 22 having alongitudinal rib 23 formed on Y the side and provided with'a clearance space 24 at a point a givenv distance inwardly from the. end of the socket.'

The portion 21 "of the rod` is formedwith a Vrodor plug'25 setA into and suitably secured to the end 'of the'rod, and adapted portion of the plug 25 is mounted a rota* table sleeve26 formed with a longitudinal groove 27 adapted to fit therib 23, adapted in one position to register with acorresponding groove 28 formed on the head 29 k.of the' plug or rod 25.V To retain the sleevein this position in which the jointvr is locked or unlocked, a spring detent device is provided I between this sleeve 26y and the rod 25. This springv detent device comprises a spring tongue 30 .conveniently cut directly out of the `sleeve itself, which is formed of steel orl like spring metal. The tongue 30 is formed with a stud 31 adapted to engage with one ico iio i and thereby prevent separation betweenthe formed in a suitable way to cause it to per.- Y

Vtwo parts ofthe rod. Y

Within the portion 2O of the rod VA the striking rod Bv is mounted and journaled.. at the fore endin suitable bushings 41 a-nd having a plug 42 at the rearvend fitting the invside of the tube. This rod.r is springt retracted by means ofA a compression spring 43 `extending between4 the bushing 41 and the plug 42. `The forward striking end 44 is forate or mark the'target towhich it strikes, as. forexample, by forming aV needle point thereon. Y

n To prevent the' striking rodi B turning. with respect to the tube A andthus making it dilii'cult to correct any inaccuracy in Valinement, a longitudinal rib 45 is formed onf the interior of the tube, as for example, by

pressing the groove in thetube, the plug 42 y is adapted to form aguide block withV a notch or recess 46 to receive the rib.

The rear section 21 of the tube has mounted therein, what may be termed the ham#` mer rod C comprising a tubular section 50 which lits closely to the tube 21, and a rod section. 51 securedi to the tube section andv eX- tending through the plug 25 being formed at its outer ends with a striking head 52. This rod is also spring retracted by meansof a spring 53 extending from the plug 275 toL the tubular section 50.- Y Y To enable the length: ofthe hammer rod to be changed, I provide a reversible end piece 55 adapted to lit the end .of the section 50. This end piece is formed with a collar 56near one end and with grooves 57 and 58 on opposite sides `of the collar. rIihese grooves are adapted,when 'either end ofV the. collar is inserted. inthe tubular portion 50, to bev engaged by a spring tongue 59 formed on thev portion 50 adapted to take in either one of the grooves 57 or 58.V It will be seen thaty by reversing the end of the end piece 5.0, the length of thevhammer rodv may be greatly varied. Y

Y When the rod'is usedfor magazine Vpra-ctice, it isnecessary to havev specially formed cartridges such asv shown in Fig. 7.

These cartridgeslcomprise anv outer casing 60 shaped andthe. size of an'. ordinary car.-

- tridge, and. ay reciprocal; plunger 61 mounted;

inthe casing and. spring retracted by means,

through the end 64 of the cartridge and occupies the same position as the percussion cap of a live cartridgeand is adapted to be struck bythe hammer of the riieand projected forwardly. To prevent the compression spring 62 being unduly compressed when the plunger is projectedrforwardly a guard' member 66 is mountedv on` the plunger formed: with. arms` 67 adapted to engage thej collar 63 and arrest the movement'of the plunger before the sprin-gis. entirely comy pressed. The forward end of the plunger is adapted-to engage the end: piece 55 of the Y hammer rod, the shorter end. being used for magazine practice. Y Y

Inl the operation.r of the device the two partsof the tube are connected together and placed in a barrel of a rifle, the muzzle cli-p` 1.1 engaging the fore sight bandV of the riie. The hammer 0r bolt of the firing mechanism of the rifle7` when operated, is adapted to strike theV end piece 55,

projecting the hammer rod. CV forwardly,

which propels the striking rodv B forwardly` to impinge on: the face of the target. Y When the device is to be used for magazine practice, the end piece 55- is reversed and they mechanism of the rilie is lilledl with dummy cartridges constructed. as shown in Fig. 7. Whenv operated the hammer or bolt of the rifle will project the rod 61 of the target forwardly which will operate the hammer rods and striking rods in the manner already described.

As many V( :hanges could be made iny the above description and many apparently widely different embodiments of my inventionv within the scope of the claims constructed withoutv departing from the spirit or scope thereof., it is intended that all matter contained in` the accompanying specilicationand drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

What I claim as myinvention is :t f Y 1.Y A target practice rod comprising, a. tube adapted to eXtend longitudinally on the interior ofthebarrel of a fire arm and from end to end of the same, ay reciprocab'l'e rod in the tubey of relatively much smaller diameter than the tube, a guiding bushing in the tube forming a bearing forthe rod and meanson the interiorfof the tube adaptedV to prevent turning of the rod with respect to the tube, said` means comprising a longitudinal groove extending fromthe end of thetube and forming a rib on the underside and i a plug on the rod having a groove to fit the rib. Y

2. A target practice rod comprising a relatively'thin metal tubev having a longif tudlnal. groove pressed. therein forming? a rib on the interior, a reciprocable striking rod in the tube, and a guide member on the rod grooved to t the rib.

3. In combination a socket having a longitudinal rib on the inside formed with a clearance space at one point, a rod adapted to fit the socket, a rotatable sleeve on the rod adapted to fit the socket, and having a groove to receive the rib on the socket and a head on the rod adapted to fit the clearance space and being formed at one part with a groove adapted to register with the groove in the sleeve when being inserted, but adapted to be moved out of registration when it is desired to lock the rod and socket together. t

4. In combination a socket having a longitudinal rib on the inside formed with a clearance space at one point, a rod adapted to lit the socket, a rotatable sleeve on the rod adapted to fit the socket and having a groove to receive the rib on the socket and a head on the rod adapted to lit the clearance space and being formed at one part with a groove adapted to register with the groove in the sleeve when being inserted, but adapted to be moved out of registration when it is desired to lock theV rod and socket together, and a spring detent device between the sleeve and the rod.

5. In combination a socket having a longitudinal rib on the inside Jformed with a clearance space at one point, a rod adapted to lit the socket, a rotatable sleeve on the rod adapted to fit the socket and having a groove to receive the rib on the socket and a head on the rod adapted to fit the clearance space and being formed at one part with a 4groove adapted to register with the groove in the sleeve when being inserted, but adapted to be moved out of registration when it is desired to lock the rod and socket together, and a spring detent device be tween the sleeve and the rod, said spring tive position.

7. In combination, a tube, a rod fitting the same, a rotatable sleeve on the rod, .means extending between the sleeve and the tube adapted to prevent relative rotation, but adapted to permit rotation of the rod relative to the tube when in a given position, said rod being only adapted to be withdrawn from the tube when in a given Yrelative position, and a spring detent device piece adapted to be placed and held in two dierent positions, the length of the entire rod being shorter in one position than in the other.

9. In a target practice rod, a tube, a striking rod therein and a reversible end on the striking rod adapted to change the length of the rod.

10. In ak target practice rod, a tube, av striking rod therein having a socket at the inner end, a reversible endy piece inl thel socket adapted to change the length of the rod.

11. In a target practice rod, a tube, a v

striking rod therein having a socket at the inner end, a reversible end piece in the socket, said end'piece being formed with a collar and grooves on opposite sides of the collar and a spring tongue on the tube adapted to be set in said groove.

12. In a target practice rod, the combination with a tube and a reciprocable striking rod therein, of a dummy cartridge having a` spring retracted plunger therein, adapted to be projected by the hammer of the rifle, and means for arresting the outward movement of the plunger before the spring is entirely compresse Y 13. The combination with a target practice rod including a tube adaptedto extend y shaped iange adaptedV to engage the end` of the practice rod, a portion extending parallel with the barrel of the 'rifle and a hook on the end of the said portion adapted to engage the fore sight band ont-he rilie.

11i. The combination with a target practice rod including a tube adapted to extend in the riiie barrel, and a spring actuated rod, of a muzzle cli having means to enga-ge opposite sides ot the end of the tube, and having other means adapted to engage the riiie barrel.

15. The combinationwith a firearm adapt.- ed to receive cartridges, of a tube adapted to extend in the barrel of the firearm, a spring retracted rod in the tube, the inner end ofthe rod being adapted normally to lie in the path of the hammer-or firing pin of the Viirearm, and means for shortening the length of the rod to permit a dummy car- Y tridge to lbeinserted between the firing pin and the end of the rod.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT EDWIN REARDON.

Copier of this patent may be obtained for ve cents eaiih, by vaddressing the Commissioner ofV Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

